Katie Couric's Notebook: Gandhi's Belongings

A pair of leather sandals, a pocket watch, and the signature round eyeglasses that Gandhi once said gave him the vision to free India: Those simple items belonged to a man whose legacy is peace. Bbut they sparked quite a battle this afternoon.

A collector named James Otis was going to auction them against the wishes of the Indian government. He had offered to donate them to India, in exchange for a promise of increased health care and aid for the poor -- a deal the government rejected.

Just moments before the auction began, Otis attempted to withdraw the items from sale. But it was too late. They were sold to a private Indian business owner for $1.8 million.

To many Indians those humble possessions are priceless.

To Gandhi, they would likely mean more given as a gift ... to a man in need of shoes, a woman in need of a watch..Or a poor person needing the vision to see a better life in India.

That's a page from my notebook.

Katie Couric, CBS News.